Arrangement for an adjustable ventilation in tunnels or similar spaces



United States Patent O 2,996,973 ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ADJUSTABLE VENTILA- TION IN TUNNELS R SIMILAR SPACES Arne Boysen, Lidingo, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Svenska Flaktfabriken, Stockholm, Sweden Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,752 Claims priority, application Sweden Feb. 27, 1958 2 Claims. (Cl. 98-49) In Ventilating traiiic tunnels the tunnel is usually divided into a number of sections with completely separate Ventilating apparatuses for each section. In order to suit the Ventilation after existing tratiic load the air quantity must be adjustable and this is normally carried out by regulating the number of revolutions for the fans used. Besides that such a regulation of the number of revolutions makes the driving means for the fans complicated, said arrangement also involves the draw back that a possibly occurring defect in any separate fan can involve a risk for that the whole tunnel must be closed for tratlic.

The invention, the object of which is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks relates to an arrangement for an adjustable Ventilation in tunnels or similar spaces divided in the above mentioned manner into a number of sections each connected to a Ventilating duct provided with a separate fan. It is new and characteristic for the invention that the Ventilating ducts are so arranged that each duct along one part of its length has two side walls in common with the other duc-ts and that in these partitioning walls there are arranged openings equipped with governing dampers.

By using a construction according to the invention it is possible to Vary the air quantity within required limits without any adjustment of the number of fans running. By a suitable adjustment of said regulating dampers in the partitions of the drum it will also be possible, when necessary, for instance during occasional traffic loads in one section, to maintain a maximum ventilation for this section at the same time as the air quantity for the other sections is reduced to the desired extent. A defective fan can also Without any interruption in the Ventilation be shut olii' and demounted for repair or exchange.

The invention will now be closer described with reference -to the accompanying drawing showing an exemplifying embodiment ofthe invention and wherein FIG. l shows schematically a vertical section through a traflic tunnel with a Ventilating arrangement according to the invention and FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section through the ventilating ducts along the line lI-Il in FIG. 1.

In the drawing 1 designates a traffic tunnel which in the case shown with respect to the Ventilation is divided into three sections A, B and C. A Ventilating duct is arranged for each section, which ducts in the drawing are designated 2, 3 and 4 respectively. All the Ventilating ducts are connected to separate fan aggregates 5, 6 and 7 respectively. In accordance with the invention said 2,996,973 Patented Aug. 22, 1961 ICC Ventilating ducts are so arranged that each duct has two side walls in common with the other ducts as is shown more clear in FIG. 2. Furthermore, openings 9, 12 and 15 provided with regulating dampers 8, 12 and 16 respectively are arranged in these common side walls, which in the drawing are designated 10, 11 and 14. If all the regulating dampers are open, the amount of Ventilating air for the sections can be regulated in the proportions l, 2/3 and 16 by using three, two and one fan respectively. lf, for instance the dampers 8 and 13 are closed but the damper 16 is open and the fan 7 for the Ventilating duct 4 is shut oi, a maximum of Ventilation of the section A will be obtained while the quantity of Ventilating air will be reduced to a half for the sections B and C etc. The position and shape of the ducts as well as the number of the sections ican of course be Varied in dilerent manners without departing from the idea of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. Adjustable Ventilating means for tunnels and the like which are divided into at least two sections, compiising a separate Ventilating duct for each section, each of said ducts terminating in its respective tunnel section, said ducts being disposed adjacent each other and having a common side wall, an opening in said common side wall, dampers for said opening selectively operable in two positions to respectively open and close said opening, and a separate fan in each duct at the side of said opening remote from said tunnel sections and selectively operable between operative and inoperative conditions, whereby the Ventilation in each tunnel section may be regulated stepwise by operation of said dampers and selective operation of said fans.

2. Adjustable Ventilating means for tunnels and the like which are divided into at least three sections, comprising a separate Ventilating duct for each section, each of said ducts being disposed adjacent two other ducts and having common side walls, therewith, an opening in each common side wall, dampers for each of said openings selectively operable in two positions to respectively open and fclose said opening, and a separate fan in each duct at the side of said opening remote from said tunnel sections and selectively operable between operative and inoperative conditions, whereby the ventilation in each tunnel section may be regulated stepwise by operation of said dampers and selective operation of said fans.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,980 Seymour June 6, 1922 2,285,387 Bartholomai lune 9, 1942 2,588,189 Wilson Mar. 4, 1952 2,872,858 Caldwell Feb. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,546 Great Britain Sept. 8, 1914 

